<p> This Delphi study explores the opinions of experts on their interactions with the adoption of digital products, services, and activities. Although there are a wide assortment of digital products and digital spaces that have the ability to make significant contributions to scholarship, still traditional monographs and textual publications dominate how research and opinions are shared. Even through scholars have widespread adoption of social spaces and digital technologies including self-publishing, many of their institutions and peer review platforms are still hesitated to recognize their contributions to scholarship (Gruzd, Staves, &amp; Wilk, 2011). The conceptual framework of this study is built upon Earnest L. Boyer&rsquo;s (1990) four principles of scholarship: the scholarship of discovery; the scholarship of integration; the scholarship of application; and the scholarship of teaching. In addition, the theory of diffusion of innovation by Rogers will guide the analysis component of the research.</p><p>

<p> For decades, the cohort model has been utilized to bring graduate degrees to working adults who cannot put their family lives and careers on hold to attend a university in the more traditional way. With the growing access to reliable digital tools, some cohorts have taken advantage of the ability to meet online with live-streaming applications such as Skype, GoToMeeting, and Adobe Connect. The blending of online instruction and face-to-face interaction has given birth to blended learning, a hybrid of synchronous and asynchronous learning. With this evolution of curriculum and instruction delivery, questions arise regarding the quality of graduate programs. Are the students who are investing time and money into these graduate degrees receiving the high-level of quality that they would expect if they were attending the university in a traditional way? How are they interacting with their peers in a scholarly fashion? How are the professors engaging the students in meaningful and scholarly ways? How do students and institutions know what is working for the success of the student and what needs to be improved? This study sought to uncover answers to some of these questions as it researched 16 doctoral students in one blended cohort in central California. With primarily qualitative methods, the study attempted to describe the phenomenon that is the blended doctoral cohort, specifically researching the participants&rsquo; perspective of themselves and the blended cohort model at the beginning of their program and, again, at the end of their program. </p><p>

<p> My dissertation explores how elicited gestures can support 6th grade students&rsquo; understanding of nonlinear dynamics of complex systems. My hypothesis is that elicited gestures make these patterns salient to the student, who learns about these quantitative dynamics via embodied mechanisms. To elicit these gestures, I designed a computer simulation called the Embodied Simulation of Population Dynamics (ESPD). The ESPD elicits bimanual gestures to represent nonlinear changes between two quantities. I explore how the learning from elicited gestures can take place at three different granularity levels. First, I compare the ESPD versus a non-embodied instructional intervention. This comparison tests whether physical movement has an effect on learning. Second, having compared individual learning, I examine the effect elicited gestures have in the way a group of students build situated meaning of graphical representations. Third, I explore a measurement model of students&rsquo; enacted movements using the ESPD log data. With the log data, I measure the student ability to enact the elicited gestures. Results show (1) statistically significant higher learning gains for students in the ESPD condition; (2) students in the ESPD condition spontaneously used more complex, action-laden gestures to convey their understanding of the quantitative dynamics; and (3) the ability to enact the elicited movement predicts learning gains. Findings from this dissertation will be useful to researchers, teachers, and designers who want to include elicited gestures as part of their instructional approach with early middle school students.</p><p>

<p> With the increase in enrollment in online courses, comes the need for institutions to continue to encourage success and persistence, and ultimately provide appropriate support services. Additionally, postsecondary institutions have seen an increase in the number of nontraditional students enrolling in online courses as a means to further their education. Research indicates that nontraditional students may have different needs than traditional students. Because of this, it is important to examine if there are also differences in the factors that may lead to success for students in each group. Three research questions were designed to determine the success factors necessary for each group. These questions examined success factors for nontraditional students, success factors for traditional students, and whether there were differences in the success factors for each group. The participants in this quantitative study included students enrolled in an online undergraduate introductory computer course at a proprietary school. A survey was administered to gather data related to age, gender, work status, military experience, high school GPA, social networking usage, self-esteem, responsibility, technology skills, and organization. Final course grades were obtained in order to examine which students were successful, where success was defined as earning a grade of C or better. Data analysis revealed that the success factors for nontraditional students included being female and perceiving oneself as being responsible. In the traditional student group, being female was the only factor indicated as being necessary for success.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of incorporating feedback from learner engagement and learner satisfaction into the instructional design of online and hybrid courses at the community college level. Kolb&rsquo;s Experiential Learning Theory and experiential learning cycle provided the theoretical framework. This mixed methodology study explores whether significant relationships exist between instructor assessments/feedback, learner engagement and learner satisfaction in the online and hybrid learning environments based on the quality of instructional design. A convenience sample of 62 students enrolled in nine online and hybrid courses at a Southern California community was used. Descriptive statistics, linear multiple regression, independent samples <i>t</i>-test, path analysis, and ANCOVA using a general linear model were used for quantitative statistical analysis. Findings reveal no statistically significant difference in learner engagement and satisfaction between groups, and no statistical significance between groups for learner engagement or learner satisfaction when controlling for feedback. A statistically significant causal relationship existed between instructor feedback and learner engagement. Emergent themes from qualitative data analysis revealed influencers of learner engagement include instructor presence, student-led instruction, ease of use, learning style and instructional design, and influencers of learner satisfaction include instructor presence, student-led instruction, sense of community, ease of use, and instructional design. The significance of this research adds a new avenue of empirical inquiry into the quality of student-centered instructional design of online and hybrid courses and the effects on learner engagement and learner satisfaction at the community college level.</p><p>

Resumo: A transposição da teoria para a prática, juntamente com o desenvolvimento de habilidades e competência, têm sido, ao longo de anos, um problema para alunos e professores nos cursos de formação do profissional Administrador de Empresas. A metodologia utilizada pela maioria dos professores do ensino superior, em especial no curso de Administração de Empresas, tem como prioridade a aula expositiva, centrada na figura do professor. Os conceitos são apresentados de forma linear, sendo o aluno o sujeito dependente, um modelo similar ao encontrado em nossas escolas de ensino fundamental e médio. Dentro deste contexto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar o trabalho desenvolvido na disciplina "Informática Aplicada" no curso de Administração de Empresas de uma instituição de ensino superior, onde a preocupação do professor foi significar e contextualizar a aprendizagem desses profissionais através de Projetos de Trabalho, potencializados pelas Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC). Para atender a este objetivo, a presente pesquisa teve como sujeitos: os alunos da disciplina Informática Aplicada, do curso de Administração de Empresas, 1o ano - noturno e o professor da disciplina, que também se identifica como pesquisador. Estes sujeitos tiveram como contexto uma instituição de ensino superior particular: Associação Educacional Toledo de Presidente Prudente - SP, Brasil. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida segundo a abordagem qualitativa do tipo pesquisa-ação. Os resultados da pesquisa mostraram ser possível a criação de um ambiente favorável ao aprendizado, através de uma aprendizagem contextualizada e significativa, um novo modo de contemplar o conteúdo programático da disciplina e, por conseguinte, atingir aos objetivos do curso, com o desenvolvimento de habilidades e competência, as quais contribuem para a formação do Administrador de Empresas. / Abstract:The transposition from theory to practice, together with the development of skills and competence, has been a problem for students and teachers in Business Administration graduation courses for quite a long time. The methodology used by most professors, particularly in Business Administration courses, has considered the speech class as a priority, centred upon the teacher. The concepts are presented in a linear way, being the student a dependent subject, a model similar to the one found in our elementary and secondary schools. Within that context, this study aims to analyze the work developed by Applied Information Technology, a subject in the Business Administration course of a college institution, where professors' concern has been to signify and contextualize the learning of such professionals through Work Projects, potentialized by Communication and Information Technologies (CIT). To reach that aim, the present study had the freshmen of Applied Information Technology, in the Business Administration course, and their teacher (also identified as the researcher) as subjects. They had a private college as the context (Toledo Educacional Association, in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, Brazil). The reasearch was developed according to the qualitative approach, research-action type. The results showed that it is possible to create a favorable environment for teaching, through contextualized and significant learning, as a new mode of contemplating the subject's programmed contents, and, consequently, to reach the course's aims, with the development of skills and competence, which contribute to the education of a Business Manager. / Orientador: Klaus Schlünzen Júnior / Coorientador: Maria Elizabeth Bianconcini de Almeida / Mestre

Dissertation deal with problems of scholar to progres social competence in primary school through schooling item practical activity. There is educationally presented educating project in general destination these project is evolution schoolchild character in all parties and make for evoluting schoolchild empathy and for positive social behavior. Dissertation is composed of two chapter. In first chapter are teoretical pieces of knowledges have to do with forming child personality, RVP and project education problems too. Second chapter deal with very project and thein realization in teaching.

<p> Students in the United States are obtaining more college degrees than ever before. In 1975, 21.9% of Americans held bachelor&rsquo;s degrees, and in 2012, 33.5% of Americans held bachelor&rsquo;s degrees (Rampell, 2013). A study in 2011 indicated that Americans possessing a bachelor&rsquo;s degree earn approximately $2.27 million, those with master&rsquo;s degrees earn $2.67 million and those with doctoral degrees earn $3.65 million over their adult lifetime, dwarfing those with some college, who earn $1.55 million, or no college, who earn $1.30 million (Burnsed, 2011). </p><p> Unfortunately, the increase in college degree attainment in the United States does not include all Americans. Among low-income students, degree attainment has been fairly flat for several decades (Mortenson, 2016). Although education can be a great equalizer and opportunity generator, among lower income students it is often times an insurmountable challenge to obtain a bachelor&rsquo;s or post baccalaureate degree. College students can have challenges in obtaining learning opportunities due to factors beyond their control, such as geography and access to quality instruction. </p><p> In order to provide equity and opportunity for nontraditional students who either working, have family responsibilities, or are low income or first generation college attenders, it is important to make every effort to connect these students with meaningful and attainable opportunities to obtain a college degree. One such delivery model of curriculum is online learning. Online learning in higher education&mdash;in which students are obtaining bachelors, masters, or doctoral degrees&mdash;takes place either partially or fully in a virtual environment accessible from e-learning devices such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones. </p><p> The goal of this study was a greater understanding the best practices in adult online education. The participants in the study were asked to help identify both the challenges and successes experienced in their online learning environments. While success in both teaching and learning is subjective, the data revealed a number of common themes, which indicated similar elements that lead to success in an online environment in areas of curriculum design, classroom management, and use of technology.</p><p>

<p> Online education is growing in response to demands of increased access, quality, and affordability. However, implementation and expansion are often challenged by faculty resistance, due in large part to perceived lack of quality and administrative support. This case study sought to determine how the presence or absence of quality elements, as defined by the <i>Online Learning Consortium Quality Scorecard</i>, in institutional structure, policy, and practice influences (motivates or inhibits) faculty decisions to teach online at Frostburg State University, a comprehensive, public university in western Maryland. </p><p> This mixed methods, sequential explanatory research collected data from three sources: an online survey of 387 faculty, a review of institutional documents, semistructured interviews with nine key university stakeholders and 13 faculty. To analyze these data, the study used descriptive statistics, logistic regression, application of the Online Learning Consortium Quality Scorecard rubric, and triangulation of data from all sources. </p><p> Findings suggest that faculty&rsquo;s initial motivation to teach online was intrinsic, enhanced by extrinsic institutional factors&ndash;those within the control of the university. However, institutional factors played a more significant role in faculty decisions to continue/expand online teaching. Additionally, the findings suggest that faculty were most likely to teach online when their intrinsic motivation was aligned with the institution&rsquo;s mission of online education and a shared strategic value of online education that balances the shared interests of the institution, students, and faculty. </p><p> The key finding in this study was that quality was a significant concern regarding online education. However, administrative support for online education was central to shaping faculty&rsquo;s definition of quality in online education. These findings suggest that quality in online education is defined by faculty as the presence or absence of administrative support which creates institutional structure, policy and practice to support faculty to deliver quality instruction. </p><p>

<p> Higher education has a long-standing relationship with veterans. Under the auspices of federal funding such as the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Act and the 1944 GI Bill, scores of veterans and active duty personnel have used their educational benefits to earn a college degree. In the 21<i>st</i> century, the 2009 enhancements to the post-9/11 GI Bill amounted to $53 billion in education benefits for servicemembers and their families. In addition, the military is increasing its education plan for servicemembers to include more frequent and more specialized training since the demands of 21<i> st</i> century warfare requires agile tactical teams to be able to act independently from large troop mobilizations or command centers. Both higher education and the military are increasingly gravitating toward online learning. Therefore, Gulf War II-era student veterans&mdash;individuals who served after 9/11&mdash;are more likely than any previous student veteran cohort to have undergone extensive military education by the time they return to civilian life and pursue college degrees. Although Gulf War II-era student veterans pursue educational opportunities as much or more than earlier cohorts, they also struggle with transitioning to civilian life. </p><p> The purpose of this exploratory, qualitative study was to explore the intersection of military education, postsecondary education, online learning, and transitioning in one context. The overarching research question was: What are the lived experiences of student veterans who have engaged in online learning in two capacities: (a) during active duty within the military education system, and (b) after separation within higher education? The study employed Knowles, Holton, and Swanson&rsquo;s adult learning theory and Schlossberg&rsquo;s transitioning theory. The study used a phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of Gulf War II-era student veterans who have engaged in online learning while on active duty and after separation. A purposeful sample of 16 student veterans was used, and open-ended interviews were conducted to answer the research questions. Using the Modified Van Kaam method of data analysis proposed by Moustakas (1994), the interview data yielded 14 emergent themes. </p><p> The study revealed that participants had different experiences with online learning during their active duty service than they did as civilian student veterans in public colleges and universities. Participants found that the military education system&rsquo;s online courses were repetitive, but they had clear objectives and structures. Failing online military courses was nearly unheard of and could lead to direct reprisal or loss of life. As civilians, many found online learning to be overwhelming and alienating. College online courses were of better quality but were easier to fail. Participants also reported that online learning was not a direct part of their transitioning experience, but their prior experience with it had provided them basic technological literacy that was useful. The research findings were reflective of transitioning theory but did not fully support adult learning theory. The findings suggest that a deep-rooted military persona or identity is probably developed by active duty military personnel and that such an identity is likely related to a military-specific learning style that does not align to traditional andragogy within higher education (e.g. group versus individual learning). The findings also posit that a new theory should be developed that centers on military learners, their styles and their unique system of postsecondary education.</p><p>